Pocketknife having retractable blades



, @3f my 19M J. B. EATON ET AL 2,552,945

POCKET KNIFE HAVING RETRACTABLE BLADES Filed Oc. 25, 1948 atntecl May 15, 19551 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BLAD Jack B. Eaton, Kalamazoo, and Donovan M. Dunklee, Doster, Mich.

Application October 25, 1948, Serial No. 56,282

This invention relates to improvements in pocket knives having retractable blades.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a retractable blade pocket knife having a handle or casing closely resemacter described in which the blade may be held in partially or fully extended position.

Fourth, to provide a pocket knife embodying a combined pocket clip and blade holding latch or detent.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a knife embodying our invention with the blade fully projected.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational View, the blade being indicated in partially projected position by dotted lines.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view mainly in longitudinal section on a line corresponding to line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section on line 4--4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in longitudinal section with the blade in fully projectedposition.

In the embodiment of our invention illustrated the handle, designated generally by the numeral I, comprises a tubular cylindrical barrel 2 having an inturned curved ange 3 at its rear end defining an opening 4. The handle tip member 5 has a reduced porton 6 at its inner end xedly secured Within the front end of the barrel. This handle end portion has a longitudinal slot 'I therein through which the blade may be projected and retracted. The tip portion 5 has an. internally cylindrical portion 8 Which coacts with other parts as will be later pointed out.

The barrel 2 has a longitudinal slot 9 opening to the opening 4 in its rear end. It is also provided With holes I0 and II aligned with the slot and constituting keepers.

. The blade holder I2 is a sliding t Within the 9 Claims. (Cl. 30-162) barrel portion of the handle and is provided with a reduced front end portion I3 having a longitudinal slot I4 extending from its front end receiving the butt of the blade I5 which is xedly secured in the slot by means of the pin I6. The combined length of the blade holder and the blade is such that the blade may be fully retracted Within the handle. When the blade is fully projected the reduced portion I3 of the blade holder is Within the cylindrical portion 8 of the tip and supported thereby thus adding to the rigid support for the projected blade and relieving the barrel portion of considerable stress when the blade is in use. This makes it practical to form the barrel of relatively thin springable sheet metal or plastic.

The blade holder is provided With an axial bore Il at its rear end retainingly receiving the pin or stud I8 which serves to secure the combined iinger piece, pocket clip and latch member I9 to the blade holder. The latch member I9 is provided with a laterally projecting arm 20 at its rear having a hole 2I therein receiving the stud. The head 22 of the stud constitutes a detent for holding the blade holder in fully retracted position. This detent coacts with the inturned flange 3 and owing to the Sprngable characterI of the barrel portion of the handle the flange has a springable retaining engagement with the head When the blade is retracted.

The clip member I9 has a rounded nose portion 23 facilitating the engagement with the clip with the pocket. This nose portion, however, also serves as a detent which is selectively engageable with either of the keeper openings I0 and II. When the blade is fully projected the detent 23 engages the keeper II. It is sometimes desired to partially project the blade for convenience .in manipulation or for some uses and the detent 23 is then engaged in the keeper opening II). The member I9 is springable so that it automatically engages the desired keeper.

The arm 2Il of the member I9 is of such Width that it coacts with the edges 24 of the slot 9 preventing in all positions of adjustment the rotative movement of the knife holder member Within the handle. The front or forward edge 25 of the slot 9 coacts With the arm to provide a stop limiting the forward movement or projecting movement o1" the blade holder. In use the member I9 also serves as a finger piece for manipulating the blade holder.

Knives embodying our invention may be very economically produced. While our invention is particularly desirable for embodiment in pocket knives of the type described, commonly desig nated as penknives, certain features thereof are desirable for use in larger knives.

We have illustrated and described our invention in a highly practical embodiment thereof. We have not attempted to illustrate or describe various embodiments and adaptatons which We contemplate as We believe this 'disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt our invention as may be desired.

Having thus described our invention, what vvel claim as new and desire to secure by YLetters Patent is:

1. In a pocket knife, a handle comprising a cylindrical tubular barrel portion of springable material and having an inturned curved flange at its rear end defining a central rear opening and having a longitudinal slot opening to said rear end opening and spaced holes aligned with said slot and constituting keepers, an outwardly tapered conically curved handle tip member shouldered and iixed Within the front end of said barrel portion of said handlerand having a longitudinal slot-like opening therethrough, a cylindrical blade holder Vslidably fitting Within said barrel portion of said handle and having a reduced longitudinally slotted front end portion, a blade arranged in and secured within said slot, said reduced portion being adapted to slidably fit within said handle tip member in supported relation thereto when theblade is in fully projected position, said blade holder having a longitudinal bore in ,tsrrearY end, a springable clip having a laterally turned arm at its rear end overlapping the rear endof the blade holder and defining an opening aligned with said Vbore therein, and a fastener pin engaged in said longitudinal bore of said blade holder and provided with ahead clampingly engagingsaid clip arm, Vsaid ilange on said handle barrel springably engaging said head vvhenV the blade holder is in fully retracted position, said arm being slidable in said slot in said handle barrel member, said clip constituting a pocket clip and being adapted to springably and selectively engage said keeper holes in said handle barrel for releasably retaining the blade in projected or partially projected position.

2. In a pocket knife, a handle comprising a cylindrical tubular barrel portion of springable material and havin-g an inturned flange at its rear end defining a Vcentral rear opening and having a longitudinal slot opening to said rear end opening and a hole aligned with said slot and constituting a keeper, a handle tip member 4 being adapted to springably and selectively en; gage said keeper hole in said handle barrel for releasably retaining the blade in projected position.

3. In a pocket knife, a handle comprising a tubular barrel portion of springable material and having an inturned flange at its rear end defining a central rear opening andrhaving a longitudinal slot opening to said rear end opening and a keeper Y through, a blade holder slidably fitting Within said barrel portion of said handle, a blade xedly havingV a laterally turned arm at its rear end fixed Within the front end. of said barrel portion Y of said handle and having a longitudinal slotlike opening therethrough, a cylindrical blade holder slidably fitting within said barrel portion of said handle and having a reduced longitudinally slotted front end portion, a blade arranged in and secured within said slot, said reduced portion being adapted to slidably fit Within said handle tip member in supported relation thereto when the blade is in fully projected position, a springableV clip having a laterally turned arm at its rear end overlapping the rear end of the blade holder secured thereto by a headed fastening, said flange on said handle barrel springably engaging said head when the blade holder is in fully retracted position, said arm being slidable in said slot in said handle barrel member in sliding engagement with the edges thereof and coacting with the end of the slot when the blade is fully projected, said clip constituting a pocket clip and overlapping the rear end of the blade holder, and a headed fastener securing said arm to said blade holder, said flange on said handle barrel springably engaging said head when the blade holder is inl fully retracted position, said arm being slidable in said slot in said handle barrel member in supported engagement with the edges thereof and coacting with the end of the slot as a stop when the blade is fully projected, said clip constituting a pocket clip and being adapted to springably engage said keeper of saidV handle barrel for releasably retaining the blade in projected position. v

4. In a pocket knife, a handle comprising a tubular barrel portion having a springable keeper portion at its rear end and being longitudinally slottedrat its rear end and having a hole adjacent its front end constituting a keeper, a handle tip member at the front end of the barrel portion having a longitudinal blade opening therein, av blade holder slidable within said barrel portion of said handle and having a detent portion at its rear end engageable with said springable keeper when the blade holder is fully retracted, a blade carried by said blade holder and projectable through said handle tip member, and a spring clip constituting a pocket clip secured to said holder and slidable in said slot in edge supporting engagement with the edges thereof, the inner end of the slot constituting a stop with which the clip ccacts to limit the projecting movement of the blade hol-der, said clip coacting with said keeper hole when the blade is in fully projected relation, said blade holder having a reduced portion engaging within said tip portion when the blade is fully projected to be laterally supported thereby.

5. In a pocket knife, a handle comprising a tubular barrel portion having a springable keeper portion at its rear end, a handle tip member at the front end of the barrel portion having a longitudinal blade opening therein, a blade holder slidable Within said barrel portion of said handle and having a detent portion at its rear end engageable with said springable keeper when the blade holder is fully retracted, a blade carried by said blade hol-der and projectable through said handle tip member, said blade holder having a reduced vportion engaging within said tip portion When theblade is fully projected to be laterally supported thereby.

6. In a pocket knife, a handle comprising a tubular barrel portion having a springable keeper portion at its rear end and being longitudinally slotted at its rear end and having a keeper adjacent its front end, a blade holder slidable Within said barrel portion of said handle and having a detent portion at its rear end engageablev with said springable keeper when the blade holder is fully retracted, a blade carried by said blade holder and projectable from said handle, and a spring clip constituting a pocket clip secured to said holder and slidable in said slot in edge supporting engagement with the edges thereof, the inner end of the slot constituting a stop with which the clip coaets to limit the projecting movement of the blade holder, said clip coacting with said keeper when the blade is in fully projected relation.

'7. In a pocket knife, a handle comprising a tubular barrel portion having a springable keeper portion at its rear end, a blade holder slidable within said barrel portion of said handle and having a detent portion at its rear end engageable with said springable keeper when the blade holder is fully retracted, a blade carried by said blade holder and projectable from said handle, and a finger piece projecting from said handle and slidably associated therewith for adjusting said blade holder.

8. In a pocket knife, a handle comprising a tubular barrel portion, a blade holder slidably supported Within said barrel portion, a knife carried by said blade holder to be projected from the handle by forward sliding movement of the holder and to be` retracted therein by rearward sliding movement of the holder member, a coacting detent and keeper element on said handle and said` blade holder engageable When the holder is in fully retracted position, and a com- 6 bined pocket clip and detent carried by said blade holder and slidably associated `with said handle barrel, said barrel provided with a keeper with which said clip coacts when the barrel holder is in a predetermined blade projecting position.

9. In a pocket knife, a handle comprising a tubular barrel portion provided with a yieldable detent at its rear end, a blade holder slidable within said barrel portion of said handle and provided with a detent engaging portion, said barrel being longitudinally slotted, and a pocket clip mounted on the rear end of said blade holder to project through and slidable in said slot in said` handle barrel, said handle barrel having a keeper element with which said clip coacts when the blade is in a projected position for releasably supporting the blade holder with a blade in projected position.

JACK B. EATO'N. DONOVAN M. DUNKLEE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,725,064 Easton Aug. 20, 1929 1,833,406 Bratrud Nov. 24, 1931 

